Increased tariffs are devastating small businesses, particularly those reliant on wholesale materials. The cost of essential packaging supplies, such as bubble wrap, has doubled, significantly impacting already thin profit margins in competitive e-commerce markets. This, coupled with existing website fees and platform commissions, forces difficult choices between price increases that risk alienating customers, and absorbing the losses, ultimately hindering small businesses’ ability to thrive. The current economic climate exacerbates the problem, making the “Buy American” ideal both unrealistic and financially unsustainable for many.
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Nintendo delayed U.S. preorders for its Switch 2 console, originally scheduled for April 9th, due to President Trump’s newly implemented global tariffs. These tariffs, impacting manufacturing locations in Vietnam and Cambodia, significantly increase import costs for the console. As a result, Nintendo is reevaluating the Switch 2’s price, potentially pushing it above the already-high $449 price tag. Online, consumers expressed outrage, blaming Trump and his supporters for the preorder delay and anticipated price hike.
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Trump’s recent decision to close a loophole in China tariffs is sending ripples through the fast-fashion world, significantly impacting online retailers like Temu and Shein. The new tariff applies to international postal shipments valued under $800, imposing either a 30% levy on the item’s value or a minimum charge, whichever is higher. This means that smaller packages face a substantially increased cost.
Initially, the minimum tariff was set at $25, affecting packages up to roughly $83 in value. However, starting June 1st, 2025, this minimum charge doubles to $50, impacting packages valued up to approximately $167. For shipments exceeding these thresholds, the 30% tariff remains in effect.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood